The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-27
INDIANA'S CATTLE QUEEN
A Lady Who Knows More About Short
Horns than Her Male Competitors.
Growth of the Cattle-Raising Business in In
diana-Subjects Discussed at Yesterdays
Meeting Of the State Association.

Among the one hundred and fifty delegates to
Short-horn Breeders Association who assembled
in the rooms of the State Board of Agriculture
sat one woman, Mrs. Gen. n. c. Meredith, OF
City. and the owner of the finest
herd of short-born cattle in the State. She
breeds and sells large number OF fine
cattle every year. She can stand up alongside
the Oldest and most experienced cattle breeders
and discuss the constitutional breeding and pedi-
gree OF any variety of animals. No man in the
convention knows any more about breeding cat
tie than does she. When her husband was alive
he was one OF the NEST successful breeders IN the
country, and was very fastidious in his tastes in
regard to the animals constituting his herds.
But in 1875. he became bankrupt, and soon
aftcrward died. Mrs. Meredith then took up
her husbands business which she prosecuted
with more energy and success than he did. One
of her sales, which occurred more than year
ago, was the most successful in the country
with one exception. She breeds the celebrated
"Wild Eyes" known by all who know what
fine breed Of cattle is Her herd of forty rem
ders her handsome annuity. In 1885 she read
. paper upon her experiences before the national
convention of short-horn breeders, which was
printed everywhere, and was more quoted than
any of the other addresses delivered at the same
time. She is, verify, a queen among her kind.
A goodly number of $50 delegates are from
among the most prominent men of the State,
not only In cattle raising, but in political life.
Among them are Robert Mitchell, the president,
of Gibson county; Thomas Wlhoit, OF Henry
county: Thomas Nelson. of Parke county; s. +.
Lockridge, of Putnam county; S. r. Quick. of
Bartholomew county; Judge D. 5 Buckles. or
nj rtvS n Rnt nd M
bert, of Bartholomew county. and H. IT, Z.
Balls and j. W. Christian, of Indianapolis.
The meeting yesterday after its organization,
was briefly addressed by the president, Robert
Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell said that the cattle in
dustry had become question of political econ
omy, and that the object of the meeting was to
promote its success. In Indiana. he said, there
are 494 944 mch cows and 864, SAG other cattle,
mostly scrubs, not including any work oxen.
About % per cent. of the mich cows are short
horns. valued at 800 per head. and the other %
per cent are scrubs. valued at $50 head. 1t
follows that the shorthorns are worth. at this
estimate, $12, SOC, 600 In the raising of cattle,
he said, there was also a question of time The
farmer watches for time to SOW his
seed and to harvest his crops. and
no change of seed could advance his
work. The time question among cattle breeders
was (Which breed Of cattle soonest are ready
for the blockT' The shcrt-horn is ready, with
a weight Of 1,50c pounds, in three years. and
some of the yearlings at the Chicago fat-stock
snow weighed l, 4OO POUNDS. IL taxes the Scrun
cattle five years to weigh 200 pounds. end then
they sell for only $40 head, while the short
horn brings $26 head. The short-horn, he said,
is more valuable altogether than the scrub both
in meat and milk qualities. The average yield
OF milk of shorthorn is four gallons DAY,
three hundred days in the year. The milk is
| better, and better butter was produced from it
| In conclusion, ne advocated stringent laws
| guarding against the snread OF CONTAGIOUS dis
eases among cattle, and ceplored the fact that a
o. OuSeS Chicago could control
| the price meat
| The report Of the secretary, Mr. Waiter J..
| Rinck, showed membership in the association
| of 160 Dues were collected this year They
| had not been in the last two years. as the asso
| citation had needed no money. He reported
| that 220 breeders had paid subscription of one
| dollar to the enterprise of publishing State di
| rectorv, giving the particulars of each herd.
| The treasurefs report showed that the affairs OF
| the association had been conducted economical
! ly, only about twenty dollars having been ex
| pended during the year.
| Mr.. Thomas Nelson, of Parke county, read ar
| address on 1.-THE Difficulties of Beginner" He
said that there was prejudice among new
breeders against colors Of cattle. occasIoned
| principally by their ignorance. Their Ignorance
in and proper feeding of their herds also
proved impediments to the success of thei
undertaking After the paper was finished,
| spirited discussion took place IN regard to tn,
color OF short-horns and the relative merit o
each.
The meeting will be continued this morning
when the remainder of the papers will be read
and in the afternoon the swine breeders will
convene.